Million Bazillion

Bridget and Ryan are approached by a big film producer to write the next summer blockbuster — a movie all about the penny! The timing couldn’t be better because so many of you have been wanting to know: why did the U.S. stop making pennies? The answer comes down to dollars and cents. But … will this be “Million Bazillion”’s big break into Hollywood? Listen now to find out.

Hey Million Bazillionaires, we're dropping into your feeds again this week to tackle a different kind of question: can we actually change course on climate change? That question is at the heart of a new podcast for kids and families from our friends at WBUR. “The Midnight Rebellion” is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itsel...

Bridget and Ryan are having their lunch break at a Chinese restaurant when they run into “Million Bazillion” listener Daphne with a big question: What’s the difference between capitalism, socialism, and communism? Turns out, each system was born out of people’s attempts to build a better society, but they have very different ideas about the role the government should play in our money lives. As th...

Today, we’re resharing an episode from our archive that feels especially relevant as the World Cup men’s soccer tournament kicks off next week! “Million Bazillion” listener Alistair wants to know how professional athletes get paid. It’s perfect timing for the question as Bridget and Ryan prepare for the semi-annual Public Radio Foosball Tournament. They scramble to assemble their dream team on a l...

We’ve talked a lot about how money works and why countries have their own currencies here on “Million Bazillion.” But listener Alessio wants to know: Why DOESN’T the whole world use the same money? And could the world’s nations all decide to just use one shared currency? In this bonus mini-episode, we’ll get some answers!

“Million Bazillion” listener Cora wants to know: How does a company buy another company? But before Bridget and Ryan can answer, Borpo, host of “Learning with Borpo” and CEO of a giant educational media empire, shows up with an offer to buy “Million Bazillion!” As the duo tries to figure out whether it’s a good deal or not, they’ll learn that buying (or selling) a company is more than just money o...

In this episode, Bridget and Ryan travel through the history of money in front of a live audience of kids and families (for real!) to answer Sofia’s big question: What is the gold standard? Together, they explore this old money rule, how paper money became a thing, and why no countries in the world – not a single one – use gold to back their money anymore. This episode was performed as part of WBU...

Today, we’re resharing an important episode from our archive! We’re answering Sadie’s question about why there is so much gold at Fort Knox. (And, we’re releasing a special new episode next week all about gold too. We can’t wait for you to hear it!) Fort Knox is one of the most secure places in the world. In today’s episode, Bridget and Ryan are determined to get inside! But just as the pair lands...

The episode you’ve been waiting for is finally here. This is part 2 of the San Fran Fin Lit Pod Con cliffhanger episode from last season. Bridget and Ryan finally made it to the conference, only to find it’s entirely cashless. It’s the perfect opportunity to answer all your non-paper-money questions: What would happen if we lived in a cashless world and paid for everything with debit and credit ca...

“Million Bazillion” listeners and brothers John and Peter want to know where game shows get their prize money. It’s the perfect opportunity to answer this question as Ryan and Bridget find themselves competing on a chaotic game show with a chance to win $1 million on the line. While they take on one challenge after another, the duo uncover the surprising ways game shows get the cash for those big...

If you’re anything like “Million Bazillion” listener, Elijah, you may have noticed gas prices change from one day to the next, sometimes by a few pennies, sometimes by a lot more. Why does that happen? Ryan and Bridget’s search for answers turns into a much bigger adventure when a falling star and misplaced wish mean Ryan’s car suddenly comes to life and takes them on a wild road trip. Together, B...

The 10th season of “Million Bazillion” is here just in time to mark Bridget and Ryan’s favorite holiday – Tax Day! There’s just one problem: Ryan hasn’t finished filing his taxes yet. With the clock ticking, Bridget steps in to help him out before midnight. Along the way, they tackle a great question from Kade: What exactly are tax returns? Will they figure everything out before time runs out? If...

Hello, Million Bazillionaires, we’ve got a new season of “Million Bazillion” coming your way on April 14! To mark the 10th season, Bridget and Ryan are going all out to answer your money questions. If you’re wondering why gas prices keep going up? We’ve got answers. Curious what the fuss is about Tax Day? We’ve got that covered too. Plus, a special episode about the gold standard, recorded in fron...

Today we're resharing an episode from our archive that might feel more relevant with gas prices up. We're going to dig more into those gas prices in the new season of “Million Bazillion: (coming soon). But this is a good time to learn about something called "inflation." After traveling back in time to stock up on snacks, Bridget and Ryan get a chance to try to control runaway inflation … but their...

It’s karaoke night for Bridget and Ryan, but something stops them from belting their favorite tunes on their podcast: the law. It’s the perfect setup to answer a question from Garrett, who wants to know about copyright, trademarks, and royalties. We all know people deserve to be paid for their creative ideas. But how does it actually work? Together, we’ll find out how creators protect their ideas...

It’s Skimbleshanks’ birthday bash and Bridget and Ryan head to the two-dollar general store for party supplies. When they get back, they tackle Harper’s question about why $2 bills exist if nobody uses them. With a little help from two ghostly guests from history they discover why this rare bill still matters. If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our...

It’s Halloween, and Bridget and Ryan are trying to answer a question about the national debt while preparing for their town’s giant Halloween extravaganza. The town has taken on debt to make things extra spooky this year and things are starting to get a little out of control! Can Bridget and Ryan help the town navigate their monster debt? (Grownups: This is episode does contain monsters but no jum...

In the previous episode of “Million Bazillion,” listener Aditya wanted to know all about the stock market, and how people make money from stocks. So what happens when a kid actually decides to try it out? Well, today we’re going to hear Joshua’s investing story, in his own words, and what happened when he decided to invest money in the stock market instead of keeping it in the bank. Don’t worry! H...

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal needs a bit of help doing his classic “The Numbers” stock market segment so Ryan jumps in to save the day. The only problem is, he has no idea what any of it means. Ryan and Bridget head to Wall Street to learn about the stock market and answer Aditya’s question: how do stocks make money? Things get competitive as the duo try investing in stocks for themselves and se...

Today, we’re resharing an important episode from our archive! There’s a major storm brewing, and Ryan and Bridget are stuck inside. It’s the perfect opportunity to answer a question they got from Archer in Los Angeles: What is insurance? Archer’s dad is an insurance agent, and Archer wants to know what his dad does all day. Turns out insurance is uh, complicated. From home insurance to health insu...

When Esmé noticed her dad suddenly staying home from work, she had questions! Her dad is one of the hundreds of thousands of workers sent home because of the government shutdown. But what is a government shutdown anyway? In today’s special bonus episode, we explain what’s going. We’re working on future seasons and would love to hear your kid’s money questions! Record your Million Bazillionaire and...

Bridget and Ryan are at the Podcast Hosts for Youths Sleepaway Camp, but Ryan just can’t fall asleep. That’s when they meet Dougie Pickles, host of the Cozy Critters sleepy time podcast, with a surprising bedtime trick. Together, they unpack the world where animals and money collide, learn what bull and bear markets are, and introduce us to a fishy little entrepreneur, all while soothing Ryan to s...

You had lots of travel related money questions! So, Bridget and Ryan are on a money mission. While racing through the airport on their way to the San Fran Fin Lit Pod Con, they get to the bottom of why stuff costs more at airports than at regular stores, how currency exchange works and where our money actually comes from. How does it travel from the U.S. Mint to our wallets? Cue the spy music! If...

Today, we’re talking about bubbles. Not the kind you play with. The kind that happen in the economy! Bridget and Ryan take a trip down memory lane to answer Jocelin’s question about what caused the 2008 housing bubble. With help from Bridget’s unforgettable treehouse bubble tale, we’ll learn what can happen when prices rise too high, too fast and the bubble finally pops! Plus, why it’s so tricky t...

It's the start of a whole new season and Bridget and Ryan have a great question from listener, Dena: What is a chain restaurant? Some chain restaurants work a little differently than other chains — they're "franchises" and individual people can open a location of their own! To answer Dena’s question, Bridget and Ryan try their hand at opening their own location of the incredibly popular and belove...